EP0828461A1 - Articulated stent - Google Patents

Articulated stent

Info

Publication number
EP0828461A1
EP0828461A1 EP95918298A EP95918298A EP0828461A1 EP 0828461 A1 EP0828461 A1 EP 0828461A1 EP 95918298 A EP95918298 A EP 95918298A EP 95918298 A EP95918298 A EP 95918298A EP 0828461 A1 EP0828461 A1 EP 0828461A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
stent
links
articulated
segments
flexible
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP95918298A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0828461A4 (en
EP0828461B2 (en
EP0828461B1 (en
Inventor
Gregory Pinchasik
Jacob Richter
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Medinol Ltd
Original Assignee
Medinol Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=27170503&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0828461(A1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Medinol Ltd filed Critical Medinol Ltd
Priority to EP06005709A priority Critical patent/EP1669043A3/en
Priority to EP01106391A priority patent/EP1110515B1/en
Publication of EP0828461A1 publication Critical patent/EP0828461A1/en
Publication of EP0828461A4 publication Critical patent/EP0828461A4/en
Priority to HK01108322A priority patent/HK1038175A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0828461B1 publication Critical patent/EP0828461B1/en
Publication of EP0828461B2 publication Critical patent/EP0828461B2/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
    • A61F2/82—Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
    • A61F2/86—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
    • A61F2/90—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
    • A61F2/91—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
    • A61F2/82—Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
    • A61F2/86—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
    • A61F2/90—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
    • A61F2/91—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
    • A61F2/915—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
    • A61F2/95—Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
    • A61F2/958—Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
    • A61F2/02—Prostheses implantable into the body
    • A61F2/04—Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts
    • A61F2/06—Blood vessels
    • A61F2002/061—Blood vessels provided with means for allowing access to secondary lumens
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
    • A61F2/82—Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
    • A61F2002/828—Means for connecting a plurality of stents allowing flexibility of the whole structure
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
    • A61F2/82—Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
    • A61F2/86—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
    • A61F2/90—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
    • A61F2/91—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
    • A61F2/915—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
    • A61F2002/91533—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other characterised by the phase between adjacent bands
    • A61F2002/91541—Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
    • A61F2/82—Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
    • A61F2/86—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
    • A61F2/90—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
    • A61F2/91—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
    • A61F2/915—Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
    • A61F2002/9155—Adjacent bands being connected to each other
    • A61F2002/91558—Adjacent bands being connected to each other connected peak to peak
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F2230/00—Geometry of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof
    • A61F2230/0002—Two-dimensional shapes, e.g. cross-sections
    • A61F2230/0028—Shapes in the form of latin or greek characters
    • A61F2230/0054—V-shaped
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F2250/00—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof
    • A61F2250/0014—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof having different values of a given property or geometrical feature, e.g. mechanical property or material property, at different locations within the same prosthesis
    • A61F2250/0029—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof having different values of a given property or geometrical feature, e.g. mechanical property or material property, at different locations within the same prosthesis differing in bending or flexure capacity

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to stents which are implanted as part
  • Intravascular stents having a constricted diameter for delivery
  • blood vessel or implanted therein are also known in the art.
  • Self-expandable articulated stents are described, for example, in U.S .
  • expandable articulated stents are commercially available under the trade
  • Palmaz-Schatz Balloon-Expandable Stents from Johnson & Johnson
  • Stent 10 is made up of a number of individual segments 12 articulated by hinges 14 connected at each end to segments
  • Stent 10 is preferably fabricated from memory shape material, for
  • nitinol and as such is self expandable after delivery from a
  • the delivery of stent 10 through curved blood vessel 16 is more
  • hinges 14 are located on the
  • the object of the present invention is for an articulated stent which
  • a stent and its support of a bodily conduit do not depend on the
  • stent comprising: (a) at least two substantially rigid segments; and (b) a
  • the rigid segments of the stent preferably present
  • the connectors can be implemented as a plurality of substantially
  • the stents have constricted diameters for intraluminal delivery and
  • catheter delivery system to expanded diameters for applying radially
  • constricted and expanded diameters of the stents typically fall in the
  • the stents are preferably fabricated from low memory, more plastic
  • bio-compatible materials for example, stainless steel 316L,
  • a typical stent for implantation in a human coronary artery is 9-21
  • FIG. 1 shows a close-up view of a prior art articulated stent of
  • FIGS. 2a and 2b show a preferred embodiment of an articulated
  • FIG. 2c shows the expanded stent of Figure 2 after plastic
  • FIG. 2d shows the stent of Figure 2 mounted on a catheter in its
  • FIGS. 2e and 2f show the stent of Figure 2 before and after
  • FIGS. 3a and 3b show a second embodiment of an articulated stent
  • FIG. 3c shows the expanded stent of Figure 3 after plastic
  • the present invention is of an articulated stent for delivering through
  • a curved bodily conduit for example, a peripheral or coronary artery of a
  • Figures 2a-2c show an articulated
  • stent constructed and operative according to the
  • Segments 102 are preferably made up to present a fine diamond
  • segments 102 typically comprise between 8-24 diamond
  • Connectors 110 comprise links 112 connecting a front end 104 to
  • Links 112 preferably extend in a substantially helical fashion between apexes of diamond shaped cells 108
  • Links 112 are
  • connectors 110 can be equally flexed in any direction and to provide
  • connectors 110 ensures that the rotational displacement of links 112 and
  • Stent 100 has a constricted diameter for delivery through a curved
  • Stent 100 is
  • Stent 100 a balloon 118 forming part of its catheter delivery system 120.
  • coronary artery is typically 15 mm long made up of five 2.2 mm long
  • connectors 110 supporting straight portions thereof while connector
  • connectors 124 comprise links 126 having one or more
  • connectors 124 are preferred to that of connector
  • stent 100 may have a tendency to rupture balloon 118 due to
  • segments 102 display a rotational displacement relative to balloon 118
  • connector 124 is brought about by two relatively opposing
  • stent 122 has a constricted diameter

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Cardiology (AREA)
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
  • Transplantation (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)
  • Media Introduction/Drainage Providing Device (AREA)
  • Surgical Instruments (AREA)
  • Paper (AREA)
  • Eye Examination Apparatus (AREA)
  • Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)
  • Cable Accessories (AREA)
  • Exchange Systems With Centralized Control (AREA)
  • Dental Prosthetics (AREA)
  • Thermotherapy And Cooling Therapy Devices (AREA)
  • Devices For Conveying Motion By Means Of Endless Flexible Members (AREA)
  • Vibration Dampers (AREA)

Abstract

An articulated stent has rigid segments with connected cells which on expansion form a cylindrical diamond mesh, and a flexible connector with flexible links each connecting apexes of adjacent cells on adjacent segments. Each link has parts, each pair having an area of inflection between them, the area remaining inflected on stent expansion.

Description

APPLICATION FOR PATENT
Title: ARTICULATED STENT
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to stents which are implanted as part
of a balloon angioplasty procedure within a bodily conduit of a living
animal or a human to maintain patency. In particular, the present invention
relates to articulated intravascular stents for delivery through or
implantation in a blood vessel having a curved portion.
Intravascular stents having a constricted diameter for delivery
through a blood vessel and an expanded diameter for applying a radially
outwardly extending force for supporting the blood vessel are known in the
art. Articulated intravascular stents for either delivery through a curved
blood vessel or implanted therein are also known in the art.
Self-expandable articulated stents are described, for example, in U.S .
Patent No. 5,104,404 entitled "Articulated Stent" to Wolff. Balloon
expandable articulated stents are commercially available under the trade
name Palmaz-Schatz Balloon-Expandable Stents from Johnson & Johnson
Intervention Systems Co.
A prior art self-expandable articulated intravascular stent 10
deployed in a curved blood vessel 16 is now described with reference to
Figure 1 which is, in actual fact, Figure 2 of the above referenced U.S.
Patent No. 5, 104,404. Stent 10 is made up of a number of individual segments 12 articulated by hinges 14 connected at each end to segments
12. Stent 10 is preferably fabricated from memory shape material, for
example, nitinol, and as such is self expandable after delivery from a
delivery system described in U.S Patent No. 4,830,003 to Wolff et al.
However, these prior art articulated intravascular stents suffer from a
number of disadvantages both during delivery through a curved blood
vessel and when implanted therein as will now described.
The delivery of stent 10 through curved blood vessel 16 is more
complicated than the delivery of a non-articulated stent in that stent 10 has
to be angularly oriented such that its hinges 14 are located towards the
convex portion of blood vessel 16 so that stent 10 can be flexed inward.
In the present example, it will be noted that hinges 14 are located on the
same side of segments 12 because blood vessel 16 has only a simple curve
in one plane. It can be readily appreciated that delivery of stents through
blood vessels which have one or more curved portions which are not in the
same plane is even more complicated and generally requires specially
constructed stents.
Even when implanted in a curved blood vessel 16, stents 10 are
shown to be lacking in that the gaps between segments 12 render the
curved portion of blood vessel 16 without support. Furthermore, the gaps
at the convex portion of blood vessel 16 are substantially greater than the 96/33671 PCI7US95/05095
3 gaps at the concave portion thereof, thereby inducing non-uniform and
therefore undesirable stresses on blood vessel 16.
Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have an articulated stent
which does not require any particular angular orientation when being
delivered through a curved bodily conduit and provides continuous and
uniform support for both straight and curved portions of a bodily conduit
when implanted.
It would also be highly desirable the structure of a stent does not
depend on the particular orientations of curved portions of a blood vessel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is for an articulated stent which
can be delivered through a curved bodily conduit using a routine medical
procedure and a conventional stent delivery system. Furthermore, the stent
provides continuous and uniform support for both straight and curved
portions of a bodily conduit when implanted. Still further, the structure of
a stent and its support of a bodily conduit do not depend on the
orientations of the curved portions of the conduit.
The objective of the present invention is achieved by an articulated
stent, comprising: (a) at least two substantially rigid segments; and (b) a
flexible connector for connecting adjacent segments, wherein the connector assumes a substantially cylindrical configuration when relaxed and a
differentially stretched and compressed curved configuration when flexed.
After expansion, the rigid segments of the stent preferably present
a fine diamond shaped mesh having 1 mm long sides to provide continuous
and uniform support for straight portions of a bodily conduit.
The connectors can be implemented as a plurality of substantially
helical links connecting adjacent segments. Alternatively, the connectors
can be implemented as links each having at least one kink. The connectors
typically have between 8-24 links to provide continuous and uniform
support for both straight and curved portions of a bodily conduit.
The stents have constricted diameters for intraluminal delivery and
are then deformed, by the inflation of a balloon forming part of their
catheter delivery system, to expanded diameters for applying radially
outwardly extending forces for supporting the lumen of bodily conduits.
The constricted and expanded diameters of the stents typically fall in the
ranges of 1.0-3.5 mm and 3.5-10.0 mm, respectively.
The stents are preferably fabricated from low memory, more plastic
than elastic, bio-compatible materials, for example, stainless steel 316L,
gold, tantalum, etc. which enables them to be plastically deformed from
their constricted diameters to their expanded diameters.
A typical stent for implantation in a human coronary artery is 9-21
mm long comprising three to seven 2.2 mm long stent segments connected by two to six 1 mm long connectors such that the ends of the stent subtend
between a 45° to 135° angle at a radius of curvature of approximately 9
mm when flexed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a close-up view of a prior art articulated stent of
deployed in a curved blood vessel;
FIGS. 2a and 2b show a preferred embodiment of an articulated
stent, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present
invention, in its relaxed and flexed states before plastic deformation;
FIG. 2c shows the expanded stent of Figure 2 after plastic
deformation;
FIG. 2d shows the stent of Figure 2 mounted on a catheter in its
flexed state;
FIGS. 2e and 2f show the stent of Figure 2 before and after
expansion by a balloon forming part of its catheter delivery system;
FIGS. 3a and 3b show a second embodiment of an articulated stent,
constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present
invention, in its relaxed and flexed states before plastic deformation; and FIG. 3c shows the expanded stent of Figure 3 after plastic
deformation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is of an articulated stent for delivering through
a curved bodily conduit, for example, a peripheral or coronary artery of a
living animal or a human and implantation therein as part of a balloon
angioplasty procedure to maintain patency.
The principles and operation of the articulated stent of the present
invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the
accompanying description.
Referring now to the drawings, Figures 2a-2c show an articulated
stent, generally designated 100, constructed and operative according to the
teachings of the present invention, generally comprising a number of
substantially rigid segments 102 connected by connectors 110.
Segments 102 are preferably made up to present a fine diamond
mesh of interconnected diamond shaped cells 108 having 1 mm sides on
expansion as best seen in Figure 2c. Depending on the intended diameter
of stent 100, segments 102 typically comprise between 8-24 diamond
shaped cells 108.
Connectors 110 comprise links 112 connecting a front end 104 to
a tail end 106 of adjacent segments 102. Links 112 preferably extend in a substantially helical fashion between apexes of diamond shaped cells 108
at front and rear ends 104 and 106 of adjacent segments 102 such that the
number of links 112 equals the number of cells 108. Links 112 are
preferably evenly deployed around perimeters of segments 102 such that
connectors 110 can be equally flexed in any direction and to provide
continuous and uniform support to both straight and curved portions of a
bodily conduit.
Alternate connectors 110 at front and rear ends 104 and 106,
respectively, • of a segment 102 preferably have links 112 wound in
clockwise and counter clockwise directions. Alternately winding
connectors 110 ensures that the rotational displacement of links 112 and
adjacent segments 102 relative to the walls of a blood vessel and more
importantly the balloon of its delivery system is minimized when stent 100
is expanded.
It is particular feature of the present invention that connectors 110
have a generally cylindrical configuration when stent 100 is relaxed as best
seen in Figure 2a and a differentially stretched and compressed curved
configuration when stent 100 is flexed as best seen in Figure 2b. The
flexed configuration is brought about by two relatively opposing
displacements of links 112. First, the differential stretching of connectors
110 occurs at the convex portion thereof denoted 114 by links 112 being
displaced away from one another. Second, the differential compressing of connectors 110 occurs at the concave portion thereof denoted 116 by links
112 being displaced towards one another.
Stent 100 has a constricted diameter for delivery through a curved
bodily conduit as shown in Figures 2a and 2b and an expanded diameter
as shown in Figure 2c for supporting a bodily conduit. Stent 100 is
preferably fabricated from low memory, more plastic than elastic, bio-
compatible material, for example, stainless steel 316L, gold, tantalum, etc.
which enables it to be plastically deformed from its constricted diameter
to its expanded diameter. The constricted and expanded diameters of stent
100 typically fall in the ranges of 1.0-3.5 mm and 3.5-10.0 mm,
respectively.
With reference now to Figures 2d-2f, stent 100 is shown overlying
a balloon 118 forming part of its catheter delivery system 120. Stent 100
is mounted on its catheter delivery system 120 in its constricted diameter
state shown in Figure 2e for plastic deformation through inflation of
balloon 118 to its expanded diameter shown in Figure 2f for supporting the
walls of a bodily conduit. An exemplary stent for implantation in a human
coronary artery, is typically 15 mm long made up of five 2.2 mm long
segments 102 connected by four 1 mm long connectors 110 and capable
of flexion such that its ends subtend a 90° angle at a radius of curvature
of approximately 9 mm. The delivery of articulated stent 100 is considerably simpler than the
delivery of prior art articulated stent 10 because stent 100 is equally
flexible in all direction and therefore does not require a dedicated angular
orientation to pass a particular curved portion. This advantage is
particularly important for delivery through blood vessels having multiple
curved portions. It is a further advantage of stent 100 over prior art stents
10, that stent 100 provides continuous and uniform support along the entire
length of a blood vessel by means of segments 102 and unflexed
connectors 110 supporting straight portions thereof while connector
portions 114 and 116 supporting convex and concave curved portions
thereof, respectively.
With reference now to Figures 3a and 3b, an articulated stent 122
is shown in which connectors 124 comprise links 126 having one or more
kinks 128. The design of connectors 124 is preferred to that of connector
110 because stent 100 may have a tendency to rupture balloon 118 due to
two reasons. First, links 112 overlying the convex portion of balloon 118
have a tendency to be biased inward when stent 100 is flexed. Second,
segments 102 display a rotational displacement relative to balloon 118
when stent 100 is expanded.
In this case, the differentially stretched and compressed curved
configuration of connector 124 is brought about by two relatively opposing
displacements of links 112 as before except that the differential stretching of connectors 124 at convex portion 114 occurs by kinks 128 being
somewhat straightened out while the differential compressing of connectors
124 at concave portion 116 occurs by kinks 128 being more acutely bent.
In a similar fashion to stent 100, stent 122 has a constricted diameter
for delivery through a curved bodily conduit as shown in Figures 3a and
3b and an expanded diameter as shown in Figure 3c for supporting a
bodily conduit when implanted therein.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited
number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations,
modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting adjacent areas of adjacent segments of an articulated stent, the connector comprising: a plurality of flexible links, wherein each of said flexible links includes a plurality of portions with each pair of neighboring portions having an area of inflection therebetween.
2. A connector according to claim 1 and wherein, during expansion of said stent, said area of inflection of each flexible link remains inflected.
3. An articulated stent, comprising:
(a) at least two substantially rigid segments having a plurality of connected cells each having apices, wherein, upon expansion, each of said rigid segments presents a substantially cylindrical diamond mesh; and
(b) a flexible connector, comprising a plurality of flexible links wherein each of said flexible links connects apices of adjacent cells on adjacent rigid segments; each of said flexible links includes a plurality of portions with each pair of neighboring portions having an area of inflection therebetween, and during expansion of said stent, said area of inflection remains inflected.
4. The stent as in claim 3, wherein said plurality of links includes between 8-24 links.
5. The stent as in claim 3 made from bio-compatible material capable of a more plastic than elastic deformation.
6. The stent as in claim 5, wherein said material is stainless steel.
7. The stent as in claim 5, wherein said material is gold.
8. The stent as in claim S, wherein said material is tantalum
EP95918298A 1995-04-26 1995-04-26 articulated stent with links having kinks Expired - Lifetime EP0828461B2 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06005709A EP1669043A3 (en) 1995-04-26 1995-04-26 Articulated stent
EP01106391A EP1110515B1 (en) 1995-04-26 1995-04-26 Articulated stent
HK01108322A HK1038175A1 (en) 1995-04-26 2001-11-26 Articulated stent

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1995/005095 WO1996033671A1 (en) 1995-04-26 1995-04-26 Articulated stent

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01106391A Division EP1110515B1 (en) 1995-04-26 1995-04-26 Articulated stent

Publications (4)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0828461A1 true EP0828461A1 (en) 1998-03-18
EP0828461A4 EP0828461A4 (en) 1999-09-15
EP0828461B1 EP0828461B1 (en) 2003-02-19
EP0828461B2 EP0828461B2 (en) 2006-07-05

Family

ID=27170503

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EP95918298A Expired - Lifetime EP0828461B2 (en) 1995-04-26 1995-04-26 articulated stent with links having kinks
EP01106391A Revoked EP1110515B1 (en) 1995-04-26 1995-04-26 Articulated stent

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01106391A Revoked EP1110515B1 (en) 1995-04-26 1995-04-26 Articulated stent

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JP (1) JPH11501551A (en)
KR (1) KR100325267B1 (en)
AT (2) ATE320772T1 (en)
AU (1) AU711431B2 (en)
BR (1) BR9510585A (en)
CA (1) CA2219488C (en)
CZ (1) CZ292021B6 (en)
DE (2) DE19581506C2 (en)
DK (1) DK0828461T3 (en)
EE (1) EE03800B1 (en)
ES (1) ES2190453T3 (en)
FI (1) FI974063A (en)
HK (1) HK1038175A1 (en)
LV (1) LV12035B (en)
NO (1) NO310333B1 (en)
NZ (1) NZ285241A (en)
PL (1) PL179854B1 (en)
PT (1) PT828461E (en)
RO (1) RO115496B1 (en)
RU (1) RU2154443C2 (en)
SI (1) SI0828461T1 (en)
SK (1) SK145797A3 (en)
WO (1) WO1996033671A1 (en)

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US10772717B2 (en) 2009-05-01 2020-09-15 Endologix, Inc. Percutaneous method and device to treat dissections

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1110515B1 (en) 2006-03-22
RU2154443C2 (en) 2000-08-20
CZ340097A3 (en) 1998-06-17
EE03800B1 (en) 2002-08-15
PL179854B1 (en) 2000-11-30
JPH11501551A (en) 1999-02-09
NZ285241A (en) 1999-03-29
EP0828461A4 (en) 1999-09-15
WO1996033671A1 (en) 1996-10-31
KR19990008097A (en) 1999-01-25
EE9700296A (en) 1998-04-15
SK145797A3 (en) 1998-10-07
FI974063A (en) 1997-12-19
EP1110515A2 (en) 2001-06-27
DE69529692T3 (en) 2007-02-08
SI0828461T1 (en) 2003-06-30
BR9510585A (en) 1999-01-05
EP0828461B2 (en) 2006-07-05
NO974938D0 (en) 1997-10-24
NO310333B1 (en) 2001-06-25
EP1110515A3 (en) 2001-10-04
FI974063A0 (en) 1997-10-27
CA2219488C (en) 2003-06-10
HK1038175A1 (en) 2002-03-08
ATE232703T1 (en) 2003-03-15
LV12035B (en) 1999-03-20
EP0828461B1 (en) 2003-02-19
LV12035A (en) 1998-05-20
PL322980A1 (en) 1998-03-02
DE69529692T2 (en) 2003-12-18
DE69529692D1 (en) 2003-03-27
ES2190453T3 (en) 2003-08-01
DE19581506T1 (en) 1997-08-21
ATE320772T1 (en) 2006-04-15
KR100325267B1 (en) 2003-10-11
CZ292021B6 (en) 2003-07-16
RO115496B1 (en) 2000-03-30
AU711431B2 (en) 1999-10-14
PT828461E (en) 2003-07-31
CA2219488A1 (en) 1996-10-31
NO974938L (en) 1997-12-19
AU2427995A (en) 1996-11-18
DE19581506C2 (en) 2003-06-18
DK0828461T3 (en) 2003-05-05

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